Approaches to the targeting of treatment for osteoporosis

Fractures are a clinical consequence of osteoporosis, and represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several treatments have been shown to decrease the risk of fracture, but problems arise in identifying individuals at high fracture risk so that treatments can be effectively targeted. The case for widespread population screening using bone mineral density testing is weak, as these tests lack sensitivity. Case-finding algorithms are available in many countries, but differ markedly in their approaches. Recent developments in fracture risk assessment include the availability of the FRAX (WHO Collaborating Center for Bone Metabolic Disease, Sheffield, UK) tool, which integrates the weight of clinical risk factors for fracture risk with or without information on bone mineral density, and computes the 10-year probability of fracture. The tool increases sensitivity without trading specificity, and is now being used in the reappraisal of clinical guidelines.